I sent for him, and remonstrated with him upon his
disgraceful conduct, he told me that I was a miser, that I spent my life
in a dog-kennel for the sake of hoarding money, and that I deserved
nothing better than his treatment of me. I may have been better off at
this time than I had cared to let him know, for I had soon found out what
a reckless scoundrel I had to deal with; but if he had behaved decently,
he would have found me generous and indulgent enough. As it was, I told
him to go about his business, and never to expect another sixpence from
me as long as he lived. How he managed to exist after this, I hardly
know. He was very much mixed up with a disreputable lot of turf-men, and
I believe he made money by betting. His mother robbed me for him, I found
out afterwards, and contrived to send him a good deal of money at odd
times. My business as a dealer in second-hand silver was better then than
it is now, and I had had so much money passing through my hands that it
was pretty easy for my wife to cheat me. Poor soul! she has been dead and
gone these fifteen years, and I have freely forgiven her. She loved that
young man to distraction. If he had wanted a step to reach the object of
his wishes, she would have laid herself down in the dust and let him walk
over her body. I suppose it is in the nature of mothers to love their
sons like that. Well, sir, I never saw my gentleman after that day. I had
plenty of letters from him, all asking for money; threatening letters,
pitiful letters, letters in which he swore he would destroy himself if he
didn't receive a remittance by return of post; but I never sent him a
shilling. About a year after our last meeting, I received the
announcement of his marriage with Miss Geoffry. He wrote to tell me that,
if I would allow him a decent income, he would reform and lead a steady
life. That letter I did answer: to the effect that, if he chose to come
here and act as my shopman, I would give him board and lodging for
himself and his wife, and such wages as he should deserve. I told him
that I had given him his chance as a gentleman, and he had thrown it
away. I would give him the opportunity now of succeeding in a humbler
career by sheer industry and perseverance as I had succeeded myself. If
he thought that I had made a fortune, there was so much the more reason
for him to try his luck. This was the last letter I ever wrote to him. It
was unanswered; but about a year and a half afterwar